Comet in Moominland: Tove Jansson (Moomins Collectors' Editions) Hardcover – 5 Oct. 2017

I do smile when people surprised by the darkness of Tove Jansson's final novel, Moominvalley in November, invoke this story as its antithesis and a light and cheerful Moomin story. It's a parable, as far as I can make out, for life under the early years of the newly realized threat of global nuclear annihilation: Moomintroll and Sniff discover that the earth lies in the path of a rapidly approaching comet that will destroy the planet, and the book documents their quest to grasp the threat and then, with ample helpings of pathos, their flight back home in hopes that Moominmamma will somehow make it all okay. So if you discount the threat of the imminent fiery destruction of the world, then sure, it's a lighthearted bedtime read. The thing is, the nature of Jansson's incredible writing is such that you actually almost CAN discount that threat, and enjoy the story as something like an innocent romp. It's punctuated with ample humour and plenty of derring-do, midsummer-night's dances and shopping expeditions. The characters are constantly distracted from the horror that threatens to overwhelm them, by the simple joys of life: Moomintroll snaps out of his torpor when he meets and falls immediately head over heels for the secretly rather capable Snork Maiden, the fearful Sniff is happy so long as there's a get-rich-quick scheme somewhere on the horizon, pedantry is its own reward for the pernickety Snork and even Snufkin, the closest the series has to a straight man, can set his growing dread aside for long enough to play harmonica for the tree-spirits. This is part of Tove Jansson's genius: her writing holds in tension genuine darkness and a boundless, bubbling joy, two sides of life, never allowing one to obliterate the other, never tempted to say that one is real and the other an illusion. Yes, this story has a happy ending, and it's full of the signature optimism and the loving handling of its characters' flaws that are the series's hallmark. Yes, Sniff totally fights a dragon (well, giant lizard) and there's plenty of lemonade and a fuddled Hemulen. But if this is the lighthearted end of the series's spectrum, that's just to illustrate how deep these books go. Anyway. My five-year-old loved it for the adventuring and exploring -- I don't want to make it sound as though the existential horror is laid on thick, or anything. But it's maybe the first bedtime story series that I've been as rapt with as she was.

I read some of the Moomins books to my kids when they were little but I had forgotten how beautiful they are (and the lovely woodcut illustrations too).

I'm 41 and long have I loved the Moomins and are perhaps my favourite of all children's stories.Tove Jansson created lovable and quirky characters, characters that you instantly feel reflect your own personality, with a simple message that a simple way of life and a life of acceptance is best, set in a beautiful land where nature is also a leading character.Here is the second in the series, Comet in Moominland, where boyish Moomintroll and timid Sniff leave Moomin Valley to find out about a comet that is threatening the Earth. Along the way, future main characters are introduced; carefree Snufkin, the vain Snork Maiden, the officious Snork and the obsessive Hemulen. On returning home, all cower in the arms of motherly Moominmamma, I must say, in a scene which nearly had me in tears.I agree wholeheartedly with Philip Pullman when he said "they seem to grow in wisdom and delight every time I read them." It gives a simple message of acceptance without wearing it's message on it's sleeve, something one appreciates more as one gets older.A life-affirming joy!

Superbly printed, with Tove Jansson's orignal drawings, this book takes you into the world of Moomins and their funny, scary and exiting adventures.

It's a lovely, imaginative, well told story, with beautiful illustrations. However It would have been useful to know the age guide of 9+ before buying. It's printed on the book, but I can't see it in Amazon's product details? I skimmed a lot to make it still possible to read to my six year old, for whom I felt some of the concepts were too strong: of a comet crashing into the Earth and killing everyone and everything - including all the characters we have come to love! We'll tuck it away and come back to it when she's older. We started with Finn Family Moomintroll, which is for age 7, and that had gentler stories, even if still wonderfully odd!

A magical book - not just for children - with line drawings by Tove Jansson that really enhance appreciation of a wonderfully diverse range of characters. A sense of anticipation and heightened awareness permeates the book as everyone awaits the arrival of the comet to the dark and mystical Scandinavian landscape of Moominland. As in the best children's books, Jansson sheds light on the adult world as much as on her imaginary country and all is executed with her usual deft touch. A colossal writer whose depth becomes apparent the older you grow, Jansson will connect you with the way you felt at significant points of your life without even mentioning sex, life and death. If the whole point of any art form is to concretize the abstract this woman truly succeeds and is a consummate artist of the highest order. Buy this for a child and they'll be a devotee for life. Possibly the best illustration in this book is featured on the cover - if ever there was a better visual depiction of the awe and admiration that comes from the deep infatuation that can transmute into love than the way Moomintroll beholds his Snorkmaiden as she pins her medal on his chest I've yet to find it.

Lovely book would recommend

I read these books years ago, and it's a bit down memory lane for me to read over again. The collectors editions are brilliant, and they try very hard to mimic the original books with Tove Janssons wonderful illustrations. This is the 2nd Book in the moomins stories.